The Weeknd Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is The Weeknd’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $300 million, The Weeknd is a Canadian recording artist and record producer. He gained recognition in the music industry starting on YouTube and now stands as one of the most prominent figures in the Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B genre, distinguished by his unique musical style. In the United States, he has sold over 70 million records and has received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards. Beyond music, he engages in various entrepreneurial efforts, collaborating with several brands and establishing his own personal brand dubbed “XO.”

Currently, The Weeknd ranks among the highest-paid entertainers globally, potentially earning up to $90 million in a touring year before taxes.

Real Estate

In December 2019, The Weeknd acquired a penthouse in Los Angeles overlooking the Beverly Hills Country Club for $21 million, with a monthly HOA fee of $6,800. Prior to settling in LA, he rented a triplex penthouse in New York City at a cost of $60,000 per month, which he listed for $22.5 million in January 2022 and sold for $19 million in August 2023.

He also owned a three-acre estate in Hidden Hills, California, which he bought for $18 million in June 2017. This expansive property features over 13,000 square feet, nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and a guest house measuring 1,200 square feet. In June 2020, he listed it for sale at $25 million and eventually sold it in April 2021 to Madonna for $20 million. Madonna later sold the property in June 2023 for $23 million after initially listing it for $26 million. Here’s a video tour of the home:

In August 2021, The Weeknd acquired a mansion in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles for $70 million. This impressive 33,000-square-foot home, sold off-market, sits on 1.6 acres with a view of the Bel-Air Country Club. The property boasts an indoor pool, sports court, movie theater, gym, music studio, and outdoor pool.

Early Life

Born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye on February 16, 1990, The Weeknd grew up in Toronto, Ontario, raised by his mother and grandmother after his parents’ separation. Of Ethiopian descent, his parents immigrated to Canada in the late ’80s, while his father was largely absent during his upbringing, with the two meeting only a couple of times. Religion played a significant role in Tesfaye’s formative years, as he often attended the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Despite his religious influences, Abel Tesfaye…drugs for the first time at 11 years old. Initially, it was just a habit of smoking marijuana, which later escalated into an addiction to harder substances. Tesfaye has admitted to committing crimes to support his addiction. Though he enrolled in high school, he did not complete his education, ultimately dropping out before his senior year.

Early Career

Tesfaye revealed that his stage name originated from his decision to leave high school and his family’s home “one weekend and never return.”

Three years post-high school, he encountered a producer named Jeremy Rose. Rose had been contemplating the idea of creating a “dark R&B” style for quite some time and saw Tesfaye as the ideal figurehead for the movement. Several songs produced by Rose featured Tesfaye rapping. During this period, the artist went by names like “Kin Kane” and “The Noise.” Rose permitted Tesfaye to utilize the songs as long as he received credit as a producer. Subsequently, Tesfaye uploaded the tracks to YouTube, where he swiftly garnered a substantial following, even attracting the interest of Drake.

The Weeknd’s initial major release was a mixtape titled House of Balloons. This project included tracks generated with various producers, including Jeremy Rose, who, as per their initial agreement, did not receive credits. The mixtape was a tremendous success, and once again, Drake expressed his admiration for the artist. Drake even attended The Weeknd’s debut concerts and later proposed a collaboration. The two Canadian musicians then toured together, with The Weeknd commonly serving as the opening act for Drake. Following the release of two additional mixtapes, major record labels began reaching out to The Weeknd, eager to sign him.

Breakthrough

In 2012, after touring in the United States and Europe, The Weeknd entered into a partnership with Republic Records, which included the launch of his own imprint, XO. As The Weeknd’s record label functioning under Republic Records, XO facilitated the release of Trilogy, a compilation of his first three mixtapes. For the first time, Jeremy Rose received credit for his produced tracks. The album performed impressively, reaching number four on the U.S. Billboard 200.

A year later, The Weeknd released his debut studio album, Kiss Land, which featured Drake on multiple tracks and debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard Top 200. The following years saw The Weeknd collaborate with various artists, including Justin Timberlake and Ariana Grande, alongside an extensive touring schedule.

Released in 2015, Beauty Behind the Madness marked The Weeknd’s second studio album. In its opening week, the album sold 412,000 units and topped the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. It eventually achieved platinum status, selling 1.5 million copies globally. Shortly after, The Weeknd became the first male artist to hold the top three spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot R&B Chart with three singles, all of which later went platinum.

In 2016, The Weeknd releaseddisorder (ADD). He expressed how this condition has influenced his life and music. During the years, he has faced ups and downs in his romantic relationships, notably with model Bella Hadid and singer Selena Gomez. His first relationship with Hadid began in 2015, but due to their demanding schedules, they ended things in 2016. A brief romance with Gomez followed in 2017, which included a period of cohabitation before parting ways. The Weeknd rekindled his relationship with Hadid in 2018, only to separate again in 2019.

In his music career, The Weeknd achieved significant milestones, such as the release of Starboy, which featured collaborations with the iconic French electronic group Daft Punk. Following various artist collaborations and a tour, he presented My Dear Melancholy in 2018. His efforts led him to set a Guinness World Record in 2017 for the Most Streamed Album on Spotify within a year.

He further expanded his discography in 2018 with the release of his first greatest hits compilation, The Weeknd in Japan; and in 2020, he announced a new album titled After Hours, which was followed by the release of Dawn FM in 2022.

Earnings

His earnings were impressive during the period between June 2017 and June 2018, amounting to $90 million. Furthermore, from June 2018 to June 2019, The Weeknd’s income reached $40 million, underscoring his success across various ventures.

Musical Style

Often classified alongside other hip-hop and rap artists, The Weeknd’s musical identity is eclectic. His artistic influences feature legends like Michael Jackson and Prince. With emotionally charged lyrics, his music fuses elements of indie, electronic, and R&B genres.

Business Ventures

In addition to his musical career, The Weeknd has ventured into various business partnerships with brands, including condom manufacturers, e-cigarette companies, and Marvel. He represents Apple Music and has served as a brand ambassador for Puma, emphasizing his involvement in the fashion industry through his own merchandise, branded “XO.” He has also worked alongside brands like A Bathing Ape and collaborated with designers like Alexander Wang. Furthermore, he holds shares in the esports organization OverActive Media Group.

In August 2020, he took part in a partnership with TD Bank, launching Black HXOUSE as a silent partner. The following year, in March 2021, The Weeknd auctioned visual art and an unreleased song as an NFT on Nifty Gateway. In October 2021, he joined the board of directors of Tom Brady’s NFT platform, Autograph.

In an interview with Interview Magazine, the subject of attention was disorder (ADHD).

The Weeknd is recognized for his numerous philanthropic initiatives throughout the years, one notable contribution being a $1 million donation to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in April 2021, aimed at aiding individuals affected by the Tigray War in Ethiopia. Additionally, in March 2022, he collaborated with the WFP to establish the XO Humanitarian Fund, through which he contributed $1 from every ticket sold during his After Hours til Dawn Tour, supplementing this with a further donation of $500,000.

In 2015, he faced arrest for assaulting a police officer in Las Vegas and was subsequently handed a sentence of 50 hours of community service.

Awards

Throughout his career, The Weeknd has amassed numerous accolades, including four Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy Award, 20 Billboard Awards, 22 Junos, six American Music Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. Furthermore, he has received nominations for several Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award.